CHAPTER 5: THE (NOT) FINAL SHOWDOWN
Time is: Spring 1961
MURCA
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THE CAPE
"Meinn Gott!", the Director shouted. He was barely back from his vacation, getting ready to attend the Baris International Air Show. It was supposed to be one final briefing, about the state of the Mercury program.
Johnny could not believe the progress made. That Munhausen guy, while prone to engaging in diatribes about his heroic exploits during the Salvation War, sure knew what he was doing. His input had been invaluable to correcting several problems with the capsules.
"Well, what can I say? Start assembling the hardware now. Manned mission is a go."
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Current funds: 69 megabucks
Current astronaut roster:
MODEMJR - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 1, END 2 (Mercury/I)
FLASHHEART - CAP 1, LM 0, EVA 4, DOCK 1, END 1 (Mercury/II)
CUNTSER - CAP 3, LM 3, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 1 (Mercury/III)
MCCAIN - CAP 4, LM 1, EVA 2, DOCK 0, END 1 (Mercury/IV)
KELLY - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 0, DOCK 2, END 2 (Mercury/V)
HARDBEEF - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 2 (Mercury/VI)
OHJESUS - CAP 4, LM 1, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 1 (Mercury/VII)
Programs running: Explorer, Atlas, Mercury, EVA Suits
Launch pads: 3
Scheduled missions: Launch Pad A, unmanned suborbital, Mercury/Atlas
Launch Pad B, unmanned earth orbital, Mercury/Atlas
Launch Pad C, manned suborbital, Mercury/Atlas, McCain/Kelly
ZENOBIA
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BAIKONUREK
Syrgy sighed heavily. The form lay before him in all its cheap commienist glory: it was a simple order, scrubbing the manned orbital launch that had been planned and laborously prepared for this season, until the terrible discovery that led to classifying all newly made Semyorka rockets as unsafe.
At least the excellent crew of Baikonurek would take the time to start many, many other new and exciting projects this spring.
The Chief Designer didn't know it yet, but he wouldn't be around to watch them develop.
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Current funds: 132 megabucks
Current astronaut roster:
KARZANOVSKI - CAP 4, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 2 (VOSTOK/V)
IVANOV - CAP 4, LM 2, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 1 (VOSTOK/IV)
FAAABIO - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 0, END 3 (VOSTOK/I)
DOSTAROVASKI - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 1, DOCK 1, END 3 (VOSTOK/III)
IVANOVICH - CAP 2, LM 1, EVA 3, DOCK 2, END 3 (VOSTOK/VI)
NIKOV - CAP 4, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 0, END 2 (VOSTOK/VII)
TITOV - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 1 (VOSTOK/II)
Programs running: Sputnik, A-Series, Vostok, Booster stage
Launch pads: 2
Scheduled missions: Launch pad A, unmanned earth orbital, A-Series/Vostok
Launch pad B, manned earth orbital, A-Series/Vostok - SCRUBBED
***
MISSIONS LAUNCH
MERCURY VI, MARCH 1961
Everything went routinely. After so many setbacks and problems, the fact the rocket went up without trouble and the capsule came down in one piece seemed like an outright surprise. The flight controllers would hit the showers later, with satisfaction of their well-done manly labors.
The test flight was a success. Murca - FUCK YEAH!
MERCURY VII, APRIL 1961
"So...", Biff McCain, who was present in the launch control room, asked, "...it broke up?"
Sam Francisco analyzed the telemtry data, "Yeah...but don't worry Biff, we only made a slight boo boo."
"It broke up."
"It's a slight problem. We'll fix it. I promisee.", Sam Said reassuringly, but deftly crossed his fingers. Just in case.
MERCURY VIII, MAY 1961
*cue manly music*
You'd never be able to tell just two months ago the control room was all relaxed. Nobody even wore Hawaiian shirts today, and they could barely breathe due to all the cigarette smoke.
Biff had already crossed the gantry in dramatic slow motion and was secured inside his spacecraft. The rocket was fuelled and pressurized and rigid, aiming straight up in a most Murcan fashion.
"Are you people ready? I can't wait!", Biff came on the radio. His backup, watching from mission control, was green with envy, seeing the massive piece of metal aimed straight at his friend and colleague.
"We're counting down, Biff. I'm sure you'll notice when the mission starts."
"Hey it's not like I have a whole lot to do inside this tin can!"
As the countdown finished, the thickness and amount of cigarette smoke increased tenfold. But finally the signal was given, the rocket rumbled and shook and then gently rose, penetrating the heavens.
"Velocity...right on the line...altitude...right on the line...roll complete, pitching...", came the shakey voice of the astronaut in charge, "This feels awesome!"
The mighty Atlas rose to two hundred kilometres. Explosive bolts separated the capsule with a mighty shudder, and the spacecraft plunged back into the atmosphere, rubbing against the planet's bosom with tremendous power and speed.
Because communications were impossible during re-entry, four guys held up an artist's rendition of what was happening, covering the screen.
But all went well, despite the massive nail biting nervousness inside the control room.
"Got parachutes, sir. Looks like everything is well, telemtry's back...Biff is alive and oh man..."
The flight surgeon did not comment, but blushed slightly at the medical readings from his console. He quickly turned it off and took a long drag on his cigarette.
"CAPE, this is Mercury VIII, the ship is at stable one. It is morning again in Murca! Signing off!"
The control room erupted in another spontaneous celeration, with more than one pelvic thrust and finger-flipping in the general direction of Zenobia.
The fact Zenobians already did that nearly five months ago didn't seem to matter.
VOSTOK IV, MAY 1961
Well, that was routine. It was also chilling for the cosmonauts watching, as the capsule was stranded in orbit, tracked for several weeks by various Zenobian stations before finally reentering the atmosphere. To the point that one of them phoned up the NKVDVDROM and turned himself in. The staff at the facility, however, did not know who it was until much, much later.